Featured Reviews

Tahbilk ‘One Million Cuttings’, ‘Dalfarras’ and ‘Four Sisters’ Wines

23 November,2017

Tahbilk is one of Australia’s historic wineries, the company
formed in 1860. In the 20 years
following it became one of the country’s most significant producers. Following changing fortunes over the decades,
the Purbrick family took ownership in 1925, and restored its reputation as a
great wine producing business. Hayley
Purbrick represents the fifth generation at the helm. Tahbilk has moved with the times, and makes a
very large range of wines that begin with great value offerings to old vine
bottlings that come from vines over 150 years old. Environmental concerns are part of the modern
philosophies. Tahbilk is one of
‘Australia’s First Family of Wine’.
Here, I review a selection of ‘One Million Cuttings’ wines, the name
referring to an 1860 advertisement for vine material, and a bottle each from
the ‘Four Sisters’ Carbon Zero’ range and ‘Dalfarras’ art and family inspired
wines, which are also Carbon Zero certified.
www.tahbilk.com.au The wines are
imported by Kahurangi Estate. The reds
are very sweet and ripe, and all the wines are soft-textured. They will be
available early next year.
www.kahurangiwine.com

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Bright, light golden-yellow colour, a little lighter on the
edge, the bubbles very fine and moderately persistent. This has a softly full nose with up-front
aromas of yellow stonefruits and yeast-lees notes, along with subtle nutty
elements and a suggestion of oak. Dryish
to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is softly full with flavours of yellow
stonefruit, nutty notes and hints of yeast.
The mouthfeel is rounded with a creamy effervescence balanced by fine,
crisp, lively acidity providing freshness.
The wine flows along a soft-textured line, leading to a light finish
with moderate length. This is an
up-front, softly rounded sparkling wine with stonefruit and nutty flavours and
hints of yeast with balancing
freshness. Serve as an anytime wine over
the next 2 years. A blend of 85%
Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Noir from the Goulburn Valley, Strathbogie Ranges and
Murray Darling regions. Undergoing winemaking
techniques including MLF, French oak contact and extended time on lees. 12.5% alc.
16.5-/20 Nov 2017 RRP $16.00

Brilliant, lemon-hued yellow colour, a little lighter on the
edge. The nose is softly fresh with
up-front aromas of ripe citrus fruit and yellow stonefruits with enriching
nutty elements adding detail. Dry to
taste and medium-full bodied, the palate has gentle flavours of yellow
stonefruits and citrus fruit entwined with subtle nutty notes. The mouthfeel possesses light phenolic
textures with light, refreshing acidity lending energy. The flavours recede as the wine carries to a light
finish with moderate length. This is a
soft and gently stonefruit and citrus fruited Chardonnay with some light
phenolic textures and balancing fresh acidity.
Serve with poultry and pork over the next 2+ years. Fruit from the Nagambie Lakes district,
undergoing winemaking to include MLF, French oak contact and time on lees. 14.0% alc. 16.0+/20
Nov 2017 RRP $16.00

Tahbilk ‘One Million Cuttings’ South Eastern Australia Merlot 2015

Merlot from Australia - Other

16.5/20

Full, even, dark ruby-red colour with light purple hues. Lighter
on the edge. The nose is soft and a
little restrained, gently unfolding full aromas of ripe blackberry fruit with
notes of dark plums and boysenberries, along with jam, herb and earthy
detail. The fruit forms a soft, rounded
core with light and soft, supple tannins and integrated acidity providing some
background depth. The mouthfeel carries
to a softly solid finish of dark-red plum fruit and herbs. This is a sweetly rich, soft Merlot with ripe
plum fruit along with jam and herb elements on a rounded palate. Match with slow cooked red meats and
casseroles over the next 3+ years. Fruit
from the Goulburn Valley, fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine French and American
oak contact. 16.5/20 Nov 2017
RRP $16.00

Tahbilk ‘One Million Cuttings’ South Eastern Australia Shiraz 2016

Syrah from Australia - Other

16.5+/20

Dark, even ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues, a
little paler on edge. The nose is soft
with moderately deep and harmoniously interwoven aromas of sweetly ripe dark
raspberry and blackberry fruit along with plum jam and eucalypt nuances. Medium-full bodied, the palate is softly full
with rich flavours of ripe raspberry and blackberry fruit entwined with plum
jam and eucalypt notes. The fruit is
sweet and vibrant, and supported by soft tannin extraction providing gentle
grip. The acidity is soft and
integrated, and the wine carries to a lingering finish of plums, eucalypt and
spicy elements. This is a rich, plummy
Shiraz with raspberry and blackberry fruit and eucalypt notes on a
soft-textured palate. Match with
barbecued red meats over the next 3+ years. Fruit from the Murray, Goulburn and King
Valleys, fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine given French and American oak
contact. 16.5+/20 Nov 2017
RRP $16.00

Dalfarras Central Victoria Sangiovese 2015

Sangiovese from Australia – Victoria

16.5+/20

Ruby-red colour with some depth and slight purple hues,
lighter on the rim. The nose is intense
and deep with aromas of dark-red cherry and berry fruit with subtle notes of
dark plums and eucalypt nuances, entwined with dark herbs, hints of spice and
nutty oak. Medium-bodied, the palate has
a concentrated core of sweetly ripe dark red cherry and berry fruit with plums
and an amalgam of dark herbs with subtle eucalypt elements and nutty oak. The palate has richness and energy, and flows
along a fine-textured line with light tannin extraction and balanced
acidity. The wine carries to a fine,
lingering finish. This is a sweetly ripe
Sangiovese with dark red cherry and berry fruit with plum flavours, and herb
and nutty oak notes on a soft-textured palate.
Serve with Mediterranean-themed fare over the next 3-4 years. Fruit from the Pogue vineyard fermented to
13.0% alc. 16.5+/20 Nov 2017
RRP $22.00

Four Sisters Central Victoria Shiraz 2015

Syrah from Australia – Victoria

17/20

Very dark, deep, purple-hued ruby-red colour, very youthful
in appearance. The nose is softly full
with ripe aromas of dark-red berry fruit with dark plums harmoniously melded
with eucalypt elements, unfolding spices.
This is elegant in presentation.
Medium-full bodied, the palate has rich and sweet, intense, ripe
flavours of dark raspberries, blackberries and dark plums entwined with eucalypt
and spice detail. The fruit is
underlined by light tannin textures, with balanced acidity. The flavours flow with good linearity to a
long, lingering finish of plums, spices and eucalypt. This is a rich, sweet and intensely flavoured
Shiraz with dark raspberry, plum, eucalypt and spices, on a light-textured
palate with good length. Match with
lamb, beef and venison, and Middle Eastern fare over the next 4 years. Fruit from Central Victoria fermented to
14.5% alc., a portion aged in French and American oak. 17.0/20
Nov 2017 RRP $21.00